Cabinet construction for air conditioning unit



June 1966 R. E. ALLENDER ETAL 3,254,929

CABINET CONSTRUCTION FOR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Aug. 7, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RlCHARD E. ALLENDER DALE L. SELHOST ATTORNEYJune 7, 1966 R. E. ALLENDER ETAL 3,254,929

CABINET CONSTRUCTION FOR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Aug. 7, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 20 \N l4 IO I2 38 INVENTORS RICHARD E. ALLENDER DALE L.SELHOST BY C. $1?

ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed Aug. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 388,224 5Claims. (Cl. 312-213 This invention relates to an improved cabinetconstruction for air conditioning units of the fan-coil type. Such unitsare especially suitable for oflices, hallways, lobbies and other spacesin institutional, hospital and commercial buildings, and are frequentlyseen there as well as in rooms in hotels and motels. They are used toheat, ventilate, and/or cool the served space.

There are a number of more or less mandatory requirements in theprovision of a satisfactory fan-coil unit, and to some degree theserequirements concern themselves with the cabinet structure. The cabinetsshould be sufficiently sturdy and rigid as to stand normal abuse. Theyshould have a pleasing appearance since they must blend in oralternatively highlight the decor of the served space. The generalstructure of the cabinets should be such that they can be efficientlyproduced, since they are sold in a highly competitive market. Hence theyshould include relatively inexpensive parts to the extent possible.

One of the most important requirements, and one directly related toultimate cost of the unit, is that the structural arrangement of theunit should be such as to readily lend itself to application in variousarrangements. For example, the range of models which may be required offan-coil units includes, but is not limited to, floor, floor recessed,wall, wall recessed, inverted wall, inverted wall recessed, ceiling,ceiling recessed, and built-in models. Further, within the limits of aparticular model, various arrangements may be prescribed for Where theair to be treated is to enter the unit and where it is to leave theunit.

As one example, with a wall-hung type of unit any one of four differentair paths may be specified. Recirculation air may be required to bedrawn into the cabinet through the bottom, or alternatively through thelower part of the front face. The air being discharged back into theroom may be required to be delivered out of the top of the unit or,alternatively, out of the upper part of the front face. Consequently, itwill be apparent that in connection with this single model, any one offour different panel arrangements may be required for a particularinstallation. Different panel arrangements for varying the location ofthe recirculation air inlet and discharge air outlet are also requiredfor other models to an equal or lesser degree.

The foregoing requirements are admirably met, We believe, by unitsincorporating our invention. As is conventional, we provide theprincipal operating 'parts of a fan-coil unit such as the coil, fans,and fan motor, dampers and the like in a central core or centercompartment structure having substantially the same box-like exteriorform in all models. The opposite ends of the core portion are providedwith vertical partitions which define the width of the central coreportion and which are tied to each other by internal structure extendingbetween the opposite vertical partitions. The interior structure of thecore does not form a part of this invention and will therefore not bedescribed in any detail.

In accordance with the invention, the panel parts which serve as thefinished surfaces of the cabinet casing are so constructed that theyperform a framing function with posts and braces and the likesubstantially eliminated outside of the central core space. In a word,the outer 3,254,929 Patented June 7, 1966 panels of the cabinet are notsimply hung on a frame, but serve as part of the frame itself.

The outer panels for carrying out this concept generally includeopposite end panels and panels for the other three normally exposedfaces of the cabinet (i.e., front, top, and bottom). The end panels areadapted to be mounted in outwardly-spaced and parallel relation to therespective opposite vertical partitions of the core so as to form endcompartments between the vertical partitions and the end panels. The endpanels are each provided on their inner faces with flanges inset from atleast the top, bottom and front edges to form inside corners along theseedges. The flanges are inset to a degree as to be aligned with thecorresponding edges of the vertical partitions when the end panels aremounted. End panels so formed are very sturdy and rigid since the insetflanges not only serve as fastening elements but also stiffen the endpanels.

The panels for the other faces of the cabinet extend between theopposite end panels with their ends received by the inside corners ofthe end panels. Some of the face panels are secured to both the endpanels and the vertical partitions while others may be secured only tothe vertical partitions.

In accordance with a principal feature of the invention, at least one ofthe face panels is a corner panel having equal width leg portions. Oneof the leg portions is provided with an open-work grille, and the otheris imperforate. The corner panel is attached over one of the cornersformed by the front and an adjacent face so that the variations in inletand outlet location requirement may be readily accommodated. The cornerpanel may not only be used on many different models but may also bereversed in its particular location. I

The overall construction of the cabinet casing is such as to accommodatethe use of certain common parts in various models and to also facilitateassembly and servicing disassembly as will more fully appear from thefollowing.

The invention will be explained'in somewhat more detail in connectionwith the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a floor model fancoil unit embodyingthe invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partly exploded isometric view of the FIGURE 1 model;

FIGURE 3 is a partly exploded isometric view of a wall model fan-coilunit illustrating certain differences and similarities between the floormodel and the wall model;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through a corner panel, this viewcorresponding to one taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through a rear top panel corresponding toone taken along the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2, with the position of acorner panel in installed relation shown in broken line outline.

The exterior of the floor model cabinet of FIGURE 1 does not readilydisclose the interior separation of the unit into a center compartmentand a pair of opposite end compartments separated from the centercompartment by vertical partitions. However, the division is perceptibleat the bottom of the unit where the horizontal opening at the bottom isdefined at the ends by the vertical partitions.

The principal visible parts of the cabinet casing of FIGURE 1 include: apair of end base sections 10 which rest on the floor and underlie theend compartments; a pair of lower corner filler members 12; a bottomplate 14 which lies flat on the floor under the center compartment, andwhich has its left edge secured to left-hand vertical partition and itsright edge secured to right-hand vertical partition 16; front panel 18secured by a pair of fasteners 20 to the vertical partitionstherebehind; a right end panel 22; a left end panel 24; a rear top panel26; and a top corner panel 28 which is a one-piece panel having equaldimension leg portions disposed in planes at right angles to each other,the one leg portion 30 shown in FIGURE 1 as extending across the upperfront face of the cabinet having an imperforate surface, and the otherleg portion 32 extending across the top front part of the cabinet beingprovided with an open-work grille surface.

In a floor model as shown in FIGURE 1, recirculation air is drawn intothe lowerfront opening defined below the front panel 18 and above thebase plate 14, and between the left and right vertical partitions. Afterbeing treated in the unit, the air is discharged back into the roomthrough the grille portion 32 of the corner panel 28.

In FIGURE 2 the interior structure of the cabinet is generally exposedalong with some detail of the panel construction. Here both the frontpanel 18 and the upper front corner panel 28 are shown in explodedrelation to the rest of the cabinet. The operating parts for the centercompartment such as the fans and fan motor, the heat exchanger, drainpan arrangement if used, and air filter are not shown. This exposes therear plate 34 covering the back of the unit between the right verticalpartition 16 and left vertical partition 36. The right-hand and lefthandend compartments 38 and 40 respectively are also clearly shown.

The end panels 22 and 24 are of identical form so that they areinterchangeable. Each is preferably formed from a single piece of sheetmetal to include top, front and bottom flanges 42, 44 and 46 inset fromthe respective edges along the inner face of the end panel, and a rearedge flange 48 flush with the rear edge of the panel. The inset isgenerally equal to the thickness of the top rear panel 26 and the commonthickness of the front panel 18. The overall dimensions of the end,panels are such that when the end panels are mounted the top and frontinset flanges 42 and 44 will be aligned with the peripheral flanges 50along the top and front of the vertical partitions 16 and 36. The endpanels are secured in outwardly spaced relation from the verticalpartitions at the top by the rear top panel 26 and at the bottom by thebase members 10. The ends of the rear top panel are received by theinside corners partially formed by the top inset flanges 42 of the endpanels. The end panel bottom flanges 46 are secured to the bightportions of' the underlying base members 10. The upper comer panel 28shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 is of the style in which the louvers arestamped out of sheet metal rather than beingbuilt up from individualmembers. Thus it may be fabricated from a single sheet of metal. Abuilt-up corner panel using bars rather than stamped louvers may be usedwhen the varied appearance is desired.

It will be observed from FIGURE 4 that the general exterior shape of thecorner panel is symmetrical about an apex line dividing the two legportions.

recessed flanges 52 and 54 are provided equidistant from the apex of thecorner panel. Thus, the corner panel 28 of FIGURE 2 may be turnedend-for-end from its position shown, and assembled so that thegrillework portion 32 would lie along the front face while theimperforate leg portion 30 would lie along the top face of the unit.

The relationship of the corner panel 28 to the rear top panel 26 as theyare assembled on the unit is shown in FIGURE 5. There a fragmentaryportion of the corner panel 28 is shown in broken-line form toillustrate how it fits with the rear top panel. As shown,inwardly-directed flange means 56 and 58 are provided to underlie eachof the longitudinal edges of the rear top panel. At each end of thepanel, an additional flange 60 is provided which is bent under and isdeliberately spaced farther from the upper surface of the panel than theother flanges Also, along I each of the opposite longitudinal edgesinside corner or 56 and 58. This provides a space between the flange 56and end panel flange 42 into which flange 52 of the corner panel fitswhen the end flange 60 rests upon and is secured to the inset flange 42of the end panel. This arrangement is used at both ends of the unit.

To hold the panels together, one sheet metal screw 61 (FIGURE 5) securesinset flange 42 and end flange 60 together, while another screw 63secures inset flange 42 to flange 56 with the longitudinal flange 52 ofthe corner panel sandwiched in between. Additionally, both the top rearpanel 26 and corner panel 28 are secured to the peripheral flange 50 ofthe vertical partitions where their common edges overlie the flanges 52.

After installation of the unit at the job site, the front panel 18 isthe only panel that is normally removed from the unit in the field forservicing. Thus it is fastened by means which provide for its readyrelease. Specifically, a pair of projecting keepers 62 at the bottomedge of the front panel 18 catch behind the lower corner members 12, andthe two fasteners 20 are then used to secure the upper edge of the frontpanel to the vertical partition flanges 50. The fastener screws 20 alsopass through the illustrated holes in the flange 54 of the corner panel28. It will be appreciated that when the front panel 18 is removed fromthe cabinet for servicing, the lower edge of the corner panel 28 is thenunsecured. However, the remainder of the corner panel remainssufficiently well'secured along its opposite edge.

FIGURE 3 shows a wall-hung model in which the parts which are the sameas the parts of the floor model are given the same numeral even thoughthey may .be oriented and located differently. While there are numerousminor differences in parts, on the whole the differences are slight. Ofcourse, since the unit is wall-hung rather than resting upon a floor,those base parts of FIGURE 2 are not present in FIGURE 3. Additionally,the end panels (both designated 70) are of greater height than those of'FIG- U-RE .2. However, in other respects the end panels are the same inthat they are provided with inset flanges along the same edges, and rearflange is flush. Further, as in the case of the floor model, the endpanels are universal in that they may be used at either end. Anadditional difference is that while the vertical partitions 72 and 74for the wall-hung units are different with respect to the ledges fortheir interior parts, they are very similar to the floor model onesincluding having the peripheral flanges 76 to which the panel parts arefastened.

The wall model front panel 78 is generally the same as the front panel18 of the floor model except for the addition of two more holes foradditional fasteners 20 and the deletion of the keepers 62..

The wall-hung unit isprovided with a rear bottom panel 26 as well as arear top panel 26, :both of which correspond exactly to the rear toppanel for the floor model. Thus, the rear top and bottom panels of theWall-hung unit are not only interchangeable on a particular unit, butare also interchangeable with those used on floor models.

The same cornerpanels :28 are used for the upper front corner and thelower front corner of the wall-hung unit as are used'for the uppercorner of the floor model. The corner panels are not only universal inthe sense of being used on various models, but are also reversible in aparticular location to change the inlet, or outlet, location. Forexample, on the wall-hung unit, the recirculation air inlet may be onthe bottom face or front face, and the air outlet may be either on thetop face or the front face.

While the floor model usually has only a single corner panel as shown inFIGURE 2 mounted along the upper front corner, this panel may also bedisposed to either. discharge air out of the top or the front of theunit.

The wall and ceiling models both ordinarily use two corner panels along:both front corners, and consequently, with each model, any one of fourdifferent air paths may 6 be provided. Furthermore, if a model isshipped to the 4. The cabinet structure of claim 3 wherein: job sitewith the corner panels incorrectly disposed, they said angle panelincludes outwardly-directed flange may be readily removed and reversedat the site. means along its opposite longitudinal edges; and

Having described our invention we claim:

said generally flat panel includes inwardly-directed 1. Air conditioningcabinet structure comprising: 5 flange means along its oppositelongitudinal edges,

an interior, longitudinally extending, vertical, central and offsetplane flange means at its ends, said angle compartment portion includingopposite end vertical and said flat panels being adapted to be :buttedtopartitions; gether along respective lon itudinal edges 'with an a pairof opposite end panels adapted to be mounted in outwardly-directedflange of said angle panel being outwardly-spaced relation from saidvertical parti- 1n accommodated under an inwardly-directed flange oftions; said flat panel.

a plurality of panels at least one of which is connected 5. Airconditioning cabinet structure comprising:

. to said vertical partitions, extending for substantially a centralcompartment portion of generally right paralt'hetlength 0C1; Eaitdcabinetd acrgss saiili central COtIItII- lelepiped form having oppositeend vertical partipar men an eween sai en panes 0 cover e ions; top faceand at least one adjacent face other than an a pair of opposite endpanels for said cabinet, each end end face; panel being adapted to bemounted in parallel, outat least one of saig panels being a one-piecemember wardly-spaced relation from said vertical partitions ofright-angle s ape in cross section so as to be so as to form oppositeend compartments between adapted to seat upon a cornfer formed lgletweenthCei respective ones of said vertical partitions and said end frontface and an adjacent ace other t an an en panels, each end panel havinan inner face proface, said right-angle panel being provided with equalvided with inwardly directed panel mounting flanges width andcross-sectional shape leg portions, one of along at least two edges, aidflange being f an which leg portions includes open work grille porextentas to provide a portion thereof in substantial -tlOIlS therein, and theother of \ghich lS imperforate. alignment with the corresponding dges ofsaid verti- Q. The construction of claim '1 -w erein: v cal partitionswhen said end panels are mounted;

each of said opposite end panels includes flanges propanel means forsubstantially covering at least the jecting from the inner face thereofWith the flanges front and one adjacent face, other than an end face,associated with the front edge and adjacent edges beof said cabinet, allof said panel means being of a ing inset from said edges to form insidecorners to length to extend from end panel to opposite end accomm ate te eIidS of said Panels eXtfindiHg panel, and to be received by saidinwardly directed tween said end pane s. flanges;

3. Air conditioning Cabinet Struct e c mpri g: means for securing atleast some of said panel means a interior centrall COIIIPPITtmGIItgoftlon defined at Its at their ends to said end panels, and atintermediate ends by vertica partition mem ers; points to said verticalpartitions;

a pair of opposite end panels adapted to be mounted said panel meansincluding at least one panel of anglein outwardly-spaced relation fromsaid vertical partlshaped cross section and equal width legs, one oftiOIl members, each 0f Said 311d P211161S having flanges said legs beingimperforate and the other including on their inner faces alon the frontand ad'acent f i edges, inset to a degree at? to be in alignment with 40pigiigl r h a y 'iie zeiie c t i zly m iiiite d io giii vi d j thecorresponding edges of said vertical partition opening along th f m f oralong an dj e t members; face of said cabinet.

means connecting said end panels to said vertical partit-ion members ofsaid central compartment including References Cited by the Examiner atleast one generally flat panel extending for the UNITED STATES PATENTSlength of said cabinet with ends secured to said end 2 panel insetflanges and intermediate points secured gg g to said vertical artiti-onmembers for su ort thereroc of; and P Pp 2,3 10,s43 2/1943 Ditzler62-4-26 at least one panel generally co-extensive with the length g q10/1959 Baker et a1 62-426 of said cabinet and being of right-angleshape in 971,449 2/1961 Huckleberry cross section with equal width legportions, one of said leg portions including open-work grille means andthe other leg portion being imperforate.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. CHA'NCELLOR -E. HARRIS, Examiner.

1. AIR CONDITIONING CABINET STRUCTURE COMPRISING: AN INTERIOR,LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, VERTICAL, CENTRAL COMPARTMENT PORTIONINCLUDING OPPOSITE END VERTICAL PARTITIONS; A PAIR OF OPPOSITE ENDPANELS ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN OUTWARDLY-SPACED RELATION FROM SAIDVERTICAL PARTTIONS; A PARALITY OF PANELS AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH ISCONNECTED TO SAID VERTICAL PARTITIONS, EXTENDING FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THELENGTH OF SAID CABINET ACROSS SAID CENTRAL COMPARTMENT AND BETWEEN SAIDEND PANELS TO COVER THE TOP FACE AND AT LEAST ONE ADJACENT FACE OTHERTHAN AN END FACE; AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PANELS BEING A ONE-PIECE MEMBEROF RIGHT-ANGLE SHAPE IN ACROSS SECTION SO AS TO BE ADAPTED TO SEAT UPONA CORNER FORMED BETWEEN THE FRONT FACE AND AN ADAPTED FACE OTHER THAN ANEND FACE, SAID RIGHT-ANGLE PANEL BEING PROVIDED WITH EQUAL WIDTH ANDCROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE LEG PORTIONS, ONE OF WHICH LEG PORTIONS INCLUDESOPEN-WORK GRILLE PORTIONS THEREIN, AND THE OTHER OF WHICH ISIMPERFORATE.